Protests in B.C. against special needs program cuts
Demonstrators remind Premier Gordon Campbell of promise to create the best support system in Canada.
The National Union of Public and General Employees
Oct 29, 2009

Vancouver (29 Oct. 2009) - Moms on the Move organized a day of demonstrations across British Columbia Wednesday to remind Premier Gordon Campbell of a promise to build the best system of supports for children with special needs in Canada.

Instead of keeping his promise, Campbell has presided, as premier, over cuts to a number of important provincial programs, including:

• Eliminating early intensive intervention programs thereby denying therapy to children whose families can't pay thousands of dollars each year out of pocket.
• Cutting staff who deliver Infant Development, Aboriginal Infant Development and Supported Child Care Services.
• Making $32 million in cuts to provincial staff who manage and deliver kids' programs and $3.6 million in cuts to front-line services as well as cuts to children in care, child care, FASD prevention and even Special Olympics.
• Denying special education in public schools, forcing families to pay privately.

The Health Sciences Association of B.C. (HSABC/NUPGE) says all of this has occurred without any assessment of risks and impacts of these cuts, and no consultation with families.

The protests on Wednesday featured small groups of demonstrators at high-traffic locations throughout the province, displaying signs and banners to protest the cuts. Events took place in Vancouver, North Vancouver, Victoria, Kamloops and Kelowna.